These Are My People

So I had a few requests to showcase some of the more important people in my life over here. Without further adieu from left to right: Michael Burke, Isobe-san, and John Wocher.

Isobe-san is John's assistant and also translates for me when necessary (which is pretty often). There is no way I would be able to function without her helping me. She has scheduled meetings for me throughout my time here in all the departments throughout the hospital and attends them with me so I am able to (1) understand what they are telling me and (2) ask questions. Additionally, she looks for opportunities for me to see things that I wouldn't normally be able to see and tries to schedule those in as well (hopefully I'll be able to see a c-section at the end of the month, twins!). Isobe-san lives over an hour from Kameda and makes the drive everyday to work. She has a three and a half year old daughter and is expecting her second.

John Wocher is the EVP of Administration at Kameda. He wears many different hats, one of which is being my preceptor this summer. So far it has been a great learning experience and I have had basically unlimited access to ask all the questions I need. He has taken me to a variety of area healthcare facilities and shared more about Japanese healthcare than I ever thought I would know (until I accepted this internship, that is). He and his wife, Midori, have been very helpful in getting me settled for my short stay in Kamogawa; they helped with everything from bug spray (necessary) to furniture.